It is not uncommon for residents in the Beaumont community to face a clogged drain from time to time. After all, with garbage disposals and dishwashers, there is a lot of food debris and grease making its way into household drains. And eventually, there will be a clog. But most consumers think nothing of this issue because they are confident that a jug of chemical drain cleaner is all they need to eliminate the problem. However, they don’t know that they could be creating a much bigger problem by dumping these harsh chemicals down their drain pipes.
The Mystery Mixture
Most liquid drain cleaners are a concoction of caustic chemicals that will eat away at a clog with acid and heat. The typical mixture contains aluminum, salt, bleach, lye, and sodium nitrate. The lye takes the lead by breaking down the organic matter and then combines with the aluminum to create intense heat. Finally, the lye and grease make a bubbly soap-like coating that will help the clog slip away down the drain as it shrivels. But unfortunately, the damage that is done is not limited to the clog.
Drain Pipe Damage
While the strong destructive nature of the chemicals sounds excellent when thinking about the clog, it takes a more negative turn when you think about the safety of your Beaumont home’s drain pipes. The liquid is corrosive enough to damage a toilet bowl, while the extreme heat created by the compound can melt a plastic drain line. And an older metal drain is no match for the corrosive nature of this liquid.
Your Personal Safety
If you know much about lye and its destructive nature to organic matter, you should be concerned because your skin is organic matter. The fine print on all chemical drain cleaners is a litany of warnings about proper care and emergency medical treatment if the drain cleaner comes into contact with your skin. Then they go one step further to warn you of the potential for severe long-term damage to your lungs if you inhale any of the toxic fumes. So be ready with a hazmat suit if you are still planning to use any chemical drain cleaner in your home. And understand that the poisonous chemical fumes can linger for a few days unless the space is very well ventilated and you can conduct a complete air exchange.
Safe Drain Clog Solutions
If you are intent on a DIY clog removal, there are several safe options that you can try, from a plunger to a drain safe mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Just a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar will produce a massive amount of cleaning bubbles. Wait about 15 minutes and flush with hot water to flush away the clog. If these options do not eliminate the problem, call (409) 207-9522 to schedule an appointment with the licensed experts at EcoWorks Plumbing for a professional clog removal and drain cleaning.
